Architect jobs in South Africa

Role Title: VP, Business Information Architect (L12)

Synchrony (NYSE: SYF) is a premier consumer financial services company delivering one of the industry’s most complete digitally enabled product suites. Our experience, expertise and scale encompass a broad spectrum of industries including digital, health and wellness, retail, telecommunications, home, auto, outdoors, pet and more.

• We have recently been ranked #2 among India’s Best Companies to Work for by Great Place to Work. We were among the Top 50 India’s Best Workplaces in Building a Culture of Innovation by All by GPTW and Top 25 among Best Workplaces in BFSI by GPTW. We have also been recognized by AmbitionBox EmployeeChoice Awards among the Top 20 Mid-Sized Companies, ranked #3 among Top Rated Companies for Women, and Top-Rated Financial Services Companies.
• We offer Flexibility and Choice for all employees and provide best-in-class employee benefits and programs that cater to work-life integration and overall well-being
• We provide career advancement and upskilling opportunities for all to take up leadership roles

Our Analytics organization comprises of data analysts who focus on enabling strategies to enhance customer and partner experience and optimize business performance through data management and development of full stack descriptive to prescriptive analytics solutions using cutting edge technologies thereby enabling business growth

The VP, Business Information Architect (L12) will be a key contributor to Synchrony’s business, data, and analytics strategy by supporting the design, development, and operational execution of curated datasets, data taxonomies, and data domain products. The role will focus on translating strategic information architecture initiatives into actionable projects, driving cross-functional alignment, and ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, accessible, and usable data assets to empower data consumers across the organization.

The role will work closely with the VP, Business Information Architect leader, within the Data Office Team and will collaborate with Data Architects, Data Engineers, Business Leaders, and IT teams to implement and operationalize data architecture frameworks, ontology models, and curated data products.

• Partner with the VP, Business Information Architect Leader to operationalize information architecture strategies and the creation of curated data products.
• Lead cross-functional teams in delivering components of the curated data ecosystem including data sets, taxonomies, and ontologies aligned to business needs.
• Translate complex business requirements into functional data design specifications and drive agile delivery processes.
• Liaise with technology and data engineering personnel to provide oversight and support for how business information requirements are translated into logical and physical data model designs.
• Support data governance by maintaining metadata catalogs and ensuring adherence to data quality, security, and compliance standards.
• Facilitate collaboration across business, analytics, and IT stakeholders to ensure data usability and accessibility.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for data products, contributing feedback and lessons learned to enhance architecture design.
• Monitor project risks and work proactively to resolve issues in accordance with organizational risk policies.
• Provide people leadership within the Data Office, including setting goals, performance coaching and reviews, supporting career development, and maintain an inclusive, performance-focused team culture.
• Mentor and develop talent within the team to strengthen architectural and analytical capabilities.
• Help prepare executive communications and presentations to report on program status, risks, and value delivery.
• Participate in special projects and emerging data initiatives as assigned.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Business, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in data architecture, business intelligence, or analytics leadership roles.
• Proven experience managing projects and teams focused on data modeling, data warehousing, or big data environments.
• Demonstrated ability to bridge business requirements and technical data solutions through effective collaboration.
• Familiarity with metadata management, data governance frameworks, and data quality tools.
• Comfortable with cloud data platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Redshift) and SQL proficiency.
• Experience working within Agile development methodologies to deliver data and analytics solutions.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills in matrix organizations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively and meet tight deadlines.
• Prior experience contributing to data architecture roadmaps, blueprints, or transformational data initiatives is desirable.

• Understanding of financial services, banking, credit, risk, marketing, or regulatory compliance domains.
• Familiarity with tools such as Collibra, Ab Initio or ER/Studio is beneficial.
• A proactive and collaborative leadership style that fosters team development and cross‑team partnership.
• Proven experience architecting and designing cloud‑centric technical solutions leveraging IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS industry‑standard capabilities.
• Strong skills in MS Office Suite, including advanced proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and Visio.
• Exceptional relationship management and influencing skills to build and sustain productive alliances across complex, matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple simultaneous deliverables under aggressive timelines while maintaining quality and composure under pressure.
• Experience collaborating effectively with diverse, multi‑location teams including staff and consultants across various time zones.
• Track record of developing and delivering architecture initiatives, roadmaps, and blueprints for curated data designs that align with and enhance business strategies.
• Excellent communication and customer management skills to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Capability to lead and deliver architectural initiatives involving digital, cloud, and open‑source technologies.
• Experience performing similar roles within large, transformational organizational engagements.

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Business, or related field preferred with minimum of 10 years of relevant experience. Minimum 12+ years of relevant work experience in lieu of specified degree.

2:00 PM – 11:00 PM IST (Suggested). This role qualifies for Enhanced Flexibility and Choice offered in Synchrony India and will require the incumbent to be available between 06:00 AM Eastern Time – 11:30 AM Eastern Time (timings are anchored to US Eastern hours and will adjust twice a year locally). This window is for meetings with India and US teams. The remaining hours will be flexible for the employee to choose. Exceptions may apply periodically due to business needs. Please discuss this with the hiring manager for more details.

• Understand the criteria or mandatory skills required for the role, before applying.
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• Ensure that your Professional Profile is updated (fields such as Education, Prior experience, Other skills) and it is mandatory to upload your updated resume (Word or PDF format)
• Must not be any corrective action plan (First Formal/Final Formal LPP)
• L10+ Employees who have completed 18 months in the organization and 12 months in current role and level are only eligible.
• L10+ Employees can apply

Job Family Group: Information Technology